"Even in our workplaces we are denied permission to visit clinics with our girlfriends. We are told that we do not have children because we are not married to the mothers. Even the Minister of Health knows this. Botswana laws sidelines us when it comes to responsibility for our own children as unmarried men," the men said during a panel discussion on male circumcision and challenges faced by men in supporting their partners on issues of HIV/AIDS. The discussion was organised by BOCAIP. The men said it does not mean that those who are not married are ignorant about HIV/AIDS issues. They said only married males in Botswana are recognised as men. They said unmarried men are discouraged by the stigma associated with accompanying their girlfriends to health centres. "We are sometimes forced to ignore those (health) services due to long queues and prayer services at health facilities when we are supposed to rush to work," one of the men said. They said most men work while their female partners are free to visit health facilities. The men were speaking after BOCAIP official Rebecca Nkalanga said they are ignorant on issues of HIV/AIDS. A majority of the men rejected circumcision, which has been introduced to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Some participants suggested that the Ministry of Health should stop circumcision because it has its own shortcomings. They said the ministry should put more emphasis on condom use. They claimed that a circumcised man might become incontinent in old age.
